Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 302

Chapter 302 A Tense Reunion at Dawn

The man walked quietly to stand beside the hospital bed.

He looked at this woman he hadn’t seen in so long. She appeared fragile and unwell, the tip of her nose still tinged pink, as if she had been crying.

He gently adjusted the blanket, carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, and gazed at her intently. Unable to resist, he reached out and brushed aside the stray strands of hair that had fallen hear her ear.

The way he looked at her held an indescribable depth of feeling–warm and intense.

He leaned in, placed a tender kiss on her forehead, then reluctantly drew back.

The moment he pulled away, her eyes fluttered open.

She was dazed for several seconds, convinced this must still be a dream.

There was no way he could have returned so quickly.

She closed her eyes again, then slowly opened them. The man whose looks could captivate anyone was still there.

“It’s me.” His voice, rough from exhaustion, sounded near her ear. “Sorry I woke you.”

Their gazes met in the dim light, as if countless unspoken words passed between them. The emotion in his eyes shimmered, unmistakably affectionate.

She lowered her gaze slightly, her heartbeat quickening under his stare. The air grew thick with a subtle, charged tension. In that moment of connection, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.

Only then did the realization sink in–it was really him.

He was back.

He was back…

Isabelle’s thoughts finally caught up with the present.

“Mm,” she murmured, unsure how else to respond.

Damian knew the question she wanted to ask but couldn’t bring herself to voice.

She was afraid–afraid of what he might say.

“I’m tired,” she said instead, the words she couldn’t speak still hovering on her lips.

She really was sleepy.

Besides, she didn’t want to face him right now.

“Okay.” Damian swallowed hard. “Get some rest. I’ll stay right here.”

“No need. Please leave.” Isabelle turned onto her side, presenting her back to him.

Alright.”

He agreed with his words, but he did not move.

Instead, he remained seated by her bed for a long, long time.

He didn’t dare leave, terrified that if he walked out how, he might never see this woman again.

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He swallowed again. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating his fine features and the two faint, glistening tracks on his cheeks.

When she woke the next morning, Damian was still sitting there.

It reminded her so much of last year, when a stomachache had overwhelmed her at home and he had broken down her front door to take her to the hospital.

Back then, he had stayed by her bedside just like this steadfast, disregarding any professional or personal boundaries between them.

“You’re awake.” He offered a tired smile.

Isabelle stared at him, feeling a little lost.

His stubble had grown thicker, his hair longer. If not for the impeccably tailored suit, anyone might have mistaken him for someone who had just come in from a rugged, remote trip.

Or perhaps she had simply closed her heart off again and didn’t care anymore?

He couldn’t help but reach out, hooking the stray lock of hair at her temple and tucking it gently behind her ear.

Isabelle instinctively leaned back, away from his touch.

Damian’s hand hung in the air for a moment before he slowly withdrew it.

His hand was left empty, and a hollow ache echoed in his chest.

Isabelle set down her fork. “I’m full.”

She stood up first, tidied her things briefly, and then the two of them walked out together.

Not a single word passed between them all the way to the car.

The driver raised the soundproof partition between the seats.

“Isabelle…”

Damian began to speak. Her gaze remained fixed out the window, her hands gripping the fabric of her trousers over her knees.

She was scared, too. She didn’t want to hear it, didn’t dare to listen.

“Believe it or not, I didn’t do it.”

Damian moved to sit beside her. Isabelle shifted away, but he didn’t let her get far, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her firmly against him.

“Let me go!” Isabelle tried to push him away, but the harder she struggled, the tighter he held on.

“No.” Damian held her close, his voice a low murmur against her hair.

Isabelle’s waist ached from the strength of his grip.

It had been almost a month since they were last together like this. Even the familiar warmth between them felt strangely unfamiliar now.